Aker sentenced in sexual abuse case

Duncan Aker Jr. acknowledges a family member in the courtroom following his sentencing hearing in Lewis Circuit Court. – Photo by Dennis Brown

Former Vanceburg minister Duncan D. Aker Jr. was sentenced in Lewis Circuit Court Friday to one year in jail on five counts of first degree sexual abuse.
Aker pleaded guilty to five counts of first degree sexual abuse on March 4 as part of a plea agreement in which charges of four counts of first degree sodomy were dropped.
Under the terms of the agreement, Aker, 64, will serve a year in jail (with credit for time served) and then be on probation for five years. He will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and complete a sex offender treatment program.
With time served, that will make him eligible for release about May 3.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Mel Leonhart talked about his decision to enter a plea agreement with Aker.
“The victim and his mother came to my office and emphatically recommended for me to not take this to trial because they felt like it would cause further psychological harm to the victim with the trauma of going through a trial,” Leonhart said after the sentencing hearing.
He added the victim’s psychologist also recommended the case not go to trial.
“Otherwise, I would not have made this offer to this man,” Leonhart said.
“I would have preferred to take him to trial and let a jury determine what to do with him,” Leonhart said of Aker. “I’m just trying to honor what the victim had requested.”

The complete story and more photos available to digital and e-edition subscribers.

Further access is available to digital and full access subscribers only.Log InSubscribe